Broody Breed Recommendations

[Chestnut Hill]

Might look into Orpingtons; supposed to be broody-prone, along with Cochins. I have 5 Buff Orps that are reasonably friendly, but not underfoot. My favorite (never thought I'd ever say that about a chicken) is usually the first to meet me at the gate, is learning to take feed from my hand, & is the only bird I've been able to pick up when I want, ever. They just turned 4 months yesterday, so I can't vouch for their broodiness, but the reason I have them is their reputation as good broodies.
I read an article not long ago that ranked Silkies, Cochins, and Buff Orpingtons 1-2-3 for broodiness.

Don’t Orpingtons come in different colors? I love the Buff, but that color seems so visible to predators. My Barred Rocks kind of disappear which seems like a good defense mechanism. Or is it only the Buff who are supposed to be broody?

 

[Chickie pants]

Sorry, but what is a game breed?

 

[kwhites634]

Don’t Orpingtons come in different colors? I love the Buff, but that color seems so visible to predators. My Barred Rocks kind of disappear which seems like a good defense mechanism. Or is it only the Buff who are supposed to be broody?

I asked that question soon after I bought mine. Consensus seems to be that they're just the better known.
My Buffs run loose 3-4 days a week, all day...they alternate with another coop...and I've had no problems, yet. They do run with a cockerel, probably a brother, who takes pretty good care of them, though, and there's an abundance of overhead cover. However, that was also the case with my BCM; he, unfortunately, didn't come home one evening.

 

[kwhites634]

Sorry, but what is a game breed?

Can't help you; I know little about game breeds. Stick around; someone who knows is sure to jump in

 

[varidgerunner]

Sorry, but what is a game breed?

American Gamefowl, Old English Gamefowl, or Oriental Gamefowl. Some people assume that they are simply bred to fight, when in reality they are bred to retain a lot of ancestral traits and instincts, yet bear confinement well, and be "tame".

Strong paternal traits, like being willing to establish territorial dominance by whatever means necessary, is directly related to strong maternal traits, such as rearing chicks. Many of the less primal breeds only have bits and pieces of their ancestral traits and instincts. Leghorns lay eggs, with no off switch, silkies set eggs with no off switch it seems, but lack the survival capabilities to rear chicks, without a lot of human intervention.

The chickens I raise with game hens seem to be a lot smarter than their artificially incubated counterparts, able to find their way around, find food, and keep themselves out of trouble much better. The important thing to me, is I don't have to worry about incubating, brooding, or any of that stuff. Coccidiosis is pretty much a non-issue, chicks learn to regulate their temperature a lot sooner, and I don't have to buy nearly as much starter feed, when their mom will show them all the good bug catching spots.

 

[Folly's place]

'Game breeds' are chickens who were, or are, bred for cock fighting, which is still legal in parts of the USA, and many other countries. These birds are really the 'original' domestic chickens, and can look more like the wild jungle fowl than most other modern breed types.
Think 'upright' and muscular, and tight feathering. Cockerels, and cock birds, of many of these breeds, will kill each other, and need to be housed separately. Great mothers, and human friendly. I've never had any, because I want roosters who will be compatible with each other instead.
I think it's the Malay roosters who can be up to three feet tall!
Mary

 

[varidgerunner]

'Game breeds' are chickens who were, or are, bred for cock fighting, which is still legal in parts of the USA, and many other countries. These birds are really the 'original' domestic chickens, and can look more like the wild jungle fowl than most other modern breed types.
Think 'upright' and muscular, and tight feathering. Cockerels, and cock birds, of many of these breeds, will kill each other, and need to be housed separately. Great mothers, and human friendly. I've never had any, because I want roosters who will be compatible with each other instead.
I think it's the Malay roosters who can be up to three feet tall!
Mary

Cockfighting is illegal in all 50 states now. Even exporting birds that might be fought is punishable by federal law. People used to raise these birds and export to the Philippines, where it is huge, but that is no more. A lot of these breeds, with a huge amount of history in the US, are facing extinction as a result. Which is a shame because of their level of usefulness on the homestead. The males do require some experience to handle. But they are really no more likely to fight than Silkie roosters. It's just that silkies can't see each other. The difference is that once they start, they are not likely to stop. Malays are oriental gamefowl, they get big, as do many of their ancestral counterparts. They were originally large Asil from Southern India. The large oriental games, that have been bred for size, are usually poor mothers, being too bulky to set without breaking eggs.

 

[Chestnut Hill]

I asked that question soon after I bought mine. Consensus seems to be that they're just the better known.
My Buffs run loose 3-4 days a week, all day...they alternate with another coop...and I've had no problems, yet. They do run with a cockerel, probably a brother, who takes pretty good care of them, though, and there's an abundance of overhead cover. However, that was also the case with my BCM; he, unfortunately, didn't come home one evening.

Gotcha! That makes sense.

 

[Chestnut Hill]

This has been a fascinating discussion on Gamefowl. Thank you!